Hat blocking machine



Jan. 3, 1939. J. BONJOKIAN 2,142,554

HAT BLOCKING MACHINE Filed Oct. 15, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet. 2

lmierfl'ov. \Joseph Bon 'oKian b imz WIW ATTys.

it) A still further object of the invention is to sponding to thesections of the block body,

Patented Jan. 3, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE HAT BLOCKING MACHINEJoseph Bonjokian, Watertown, Mass.

Application October 15, 1937, Serial No. 169,202

6 Claims. (01. 223-26) This invention relates to hat blocking machinestion 8. The elastic neck portion 8 is capable and has for one of itsobjects to provide a novel of stretching sufiiciently to permit it to beinhat blocking machine which is constructed so serted over the blockbody I, and when the enas to facilitate the operation of blocking a hat.velope 'l is in place on the block body the neck A further object of theinvention is to provide 8 of the envelope is situated below the block 5a novel hat blocking machine which is conbody and its elastic qualitiescause it to contract structed so that it will block equally well hats soas to hug the portion 9 of the supporting of various types such as felthats, Panama hats, member 2. ladies hats, etc. The hood I is dividedinto sections l0 correprovide a novel hat blocking machine which is andthe sections ll] of the hood are connected by very easy to operate.strips or zones II which span the grooves or Other objects of theinvention will be apparent openings I2 between the sections 6 of theblock. from the following description of one embodi- These portions H ofthe hood are reinforced or 1 ment of the invention. are madesufficiently stiff in any usual or known In the drawings wherein I haveillustrated a way so that they form a proper support for the preferredembodiment of the invention; hat opposite the spaces l2 between thesections Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a hat blocking 6 of the block.The hood I thus presents a plumachine embodying my invention with theenrality of sections 10 of elastic or stretchable mavelope or cover forthe block removed; terial which overlie the sections 6 of the block 20Fig. 2 is a vertical section through a hat blockbody and sai h alsopresents h r vely ing machine embodying my invention; stiff re-inforcedzones H situated between the Fig. 3 is the envelope or hood which isplaced hood sections l0 and connecting the latter, which over theadjustable block; relatively stiff zones ll overlie and span the Fig. 4is a fragmentary perspective view showj s 0 Spaces between the j e b cec- 25 ing the supporting member for the block with tions 6. When theblock body is expanded the the block removed; hood sections ID willstretch or expand and the Fig. 5 is a fragmentary perspective View ofrelatively stiff zones ll form a nonyielding supthe block-expandingelement; port for the hat in the spaces between the '30 Fig. 6 is afragmentary perspective view showexpanded block sections. 0

ing the housing for the adjusting wheel and the Each section 6 of theblock body is constructed screw-threaded member for adjusting the block;as shown in Figs. 1, 3 and 7. It is formed with Fig. 7 is a perspectiveview of one of the seoa lower face 12 which rests on the top face l3tions of the block. of the support'2, and it is also formed with a '35The block body, which is indicated at I, is depending flange M which isreceived in a slot expansible or adjustable so that it can be made [5formed in the top plate l3 of the support 2, to fit hats of differentsizes. This block body is there being a slot 15 for each of the sections6. mounted on a suitable support 2 which is shown The depending flange[4 of each block has two as provided at its lower edge with a flange 3wings l6 extending laterally therefrom, one on 40 that is bolted to thetop of the housing member each side thereof, and these wings underliethe 40 4. The housing member 4 in turn is carried by plate I3 and thushold the block section 6 from a suitable stand 5. As stated above, theblock vertical movement while permitting it to move body I is adjustableor expansible and for this radially. The support 2 is in the form of apurpose it is made with a plurality of separate cylinder and the wall ofthe portion 9 of the sections 6 which are capable of moving radiallysupport is formed with openings [1 to receive 45 toward and from eachother to vary the size the wings [6. of the block. These sections 6 willpreferably Suitable means are provided for expanding the be made ofmetal, and in order to provide a block by moving the block sections 6outwardly, smooth exterior surface for the block to fit withand as thisis done the sections ID of the hood in the hat I propose to enclose thesectional lbecome stretched. The block-expanding means 50 block body ina hood or envelope 1 which is herein shown comprises a block-expandingeleshown in Fig. 2. This envelope may be made of ment l8 (see Fig. 5) inthe form of a head I9 fabric or rubber or of any other suitable mahavingfingers or bars 20, one for each block secterial which can stretch moreor less and'it will tion 6, rising therefrom. Each bar or finger 2!] '55preferably be formed with an elastic neck poris tapered and has aninclined .outer edge 2!. .55

These bars pass through the slots IS in the plate l3, as shown in Fig.4, and the inclined edge 2| of each bar engages the inner face of thecorresponding block section, while the back side of each bar operates ina groove 50 formed in a hub or core member 49 that rises from thesupport 2. Each block section is provided on its inner edge with tworibs 22 that embrace the corresponding bar or finger 20. Theblock-expanding member I8 is capable of vertical movement, and it willbe understood that when said member is moved upwardly the inclined edges2| of the fingers 20 will act on the inner faces of the various blocksections 6 and force said sections outwardly. During this operation theblock sections 6 are prevented from vertical movement by engagement ofthe wings I6 with the under face of the plate I 3.

As stated above, the expanding of theblockcauses the sections In of theenvelope 1 to be stretched thus placing it under tension. When theblockexpanding member 8 is lowered the elasticity of the sections ID ofthe hood 1 causes the hood as a whole to contract, which causes theblock sections 6 to be moved inwardly as the fingers or bars 2!) recedeso that the block sections are always held against the inclined edges 2|of said bars. The block is thus expanded to increase its size by movingthe block-expanding member 8 upwardly and is contracted to reduce itssize by moving the member |8 downwardly.

For thus raising and lowering the block-expanding member l8 the latteris formed with a depending stem 23, the lower end of which isscrew-threaded as shown at 24. This screwthreaded portion 24 extendsthrough and has engagement with interior screw threads 25 formed in thehub 26 of an adjusting wheel 21 that is housed within the housing 4.This housing 4 is open on two sides thereby exposing a portion of therim of the adjusting wheel so that the operator may readily actuate thewheel. The hub portion 26 of the wheel is provided with extensions 28which are rotatably supported in roller bearings 55-supported in theupper and lower walls 29 and 3B of the housing 4. The stem extends clearthrough the wheel and at its lower end it has a head 3| of non-circularshape which fits within the correspondingly shaped bore 32 of sleeve 33that is secured to and depends from the housing 4. The non-circularshape of the head 3| and the bore 32 prevents the stem 23 from turningso that the rotation of the wheel 21 will simply cause the stem and theblock-expanding member to move upwardly or downwardly, depending onwhether the size of the block is to be increased or decreased.

Associated with the block-expanding member is an indicator to indicatethe size of the block in any adjusted position. This indicator is in theform of a pointer 34 which is secured to the stem '23 and extendsradially therefrom, and which is of sufiicient length so that the endprojects through a vertical slot 35 formed in the wall of the support 2.This support 2 is provided with graduations 36 at one or both sides ofthe slot 35, these graduations being marked to indicate the size of theblock when the pointer 34 is opposite any particular graduation. Forinstance, if it is desired to adjust the block for a '7 hat then thewheel 24 will be operated to bring the pointer 24 opposite the 7graduation.

With this construction the size of the block can be increased by turningthe wheel 21 so as to force the block-expanding member I 8 upwardlywhich will result in forcing the block sections 6 outwardly, and thesize of the block can be decreased by turning the wheel 27 in theopposite direction so as to move the block-expanding member downwardly.As said block-expanding member is thus moved downwardly the elasticityof the hood 1 serves to force the blocks 6 inwardly and keep them incontact with the receding inclined edges 2| of the fingers 20.

Each block section 6 is shown as having a depending apron 31 at itsfront side, which apron covers the depending flange l4 and wings l6 andalso covers the openings I! in the support 9.

My improved hat blocking machine is also provided with means forsteaming a hat while on the block or for heating the block in case a hatis being treated which requires to be heated rather than steamed. Thesteam is supplied to the block from any suitable source of supplythrough the medium of a steam pipe 38 which is shown as extended throughthe housing 4 above the wheel 21 and then up through the hollow support2 and into the bore of the hub 49 which forms a backing for the fingersor bars 20. At the upper end of the hub 49 is a manifold 40 whichcommunicates with the bore 39 and which has a plurality of radiallyextending discharge nipples 4 said nipples extending into the hollowblock sections 6 at the upper ends thereof.

The steam pipe 38 will be provided with a suitable valve controlling theadmission of steam thereto, and if desired this valve may be capable ofoperation by a treadle which, when depressed, will open a valve tosupply steam to the pipe 38, and which when raised or released willclose the valve.

If a hat is being blocked which requires the use of steam for steamingthe hat then I propose to use a hood 1 which is more or less porous sothat the steam may readily percolate through the walls of the hood. Suchan envelope is illustrated in Fig. 2 wherein the shaded portionof thehood sections l0 represents the porous character of the hood 1. Eachblock section 6 may also be provided with a multiplicity of apertures 42to provide for the circulation of steam therethrough. With the porousenvelope 1 in use the steam will percolate through the block body and.through the envelope and thus perform the desired steaming operation onthe hat. On the other hand, if it is desired to heat the hat, withoutsteaming it, as in the operation of bleaching a Panama hat, then Ipropose to use a hood 1 made of impervious but elastic material such,for instance, as rubber. When such a hood is used the admission of steamto the inside of the block and the hood will heat the latter, butbecause of the impervious character of the hood no steam will percolatetherethrough and thus the efiect of the steam will be to heat the hatwithout steaming it.

The standard 5 is shown as hollow and the housing 4 is illustrated ashaving a depending hollow boss 43 into which the upper end of the stand5 is screw-threaded.

My improved hat blocking machine is not only useful in blocking hatswhen they are to be cleaned or re-finished, but is also useful inmanufacturing hats, especially felt hats. For manufacturing the felthats of a given size it is simply necessary to operate the adjustingwheel 21 so as to expand or contract the block to the required size andthen to place the felt hat on the block and steam it and then shape itto the size and shape of the block.

While I have illustrated a selected embodiment 75 of my invention I donot wish to be limited to the constructional features shown.

I claim:

1. A hat blocking machine comprising a stand, a box-like frame supportedthereon, a hollow block-supporting member mounted on the frame, anadjustable block carried by said block-supporting member, ablock-expanding member adapted by its vertical movement to expand theblock, said member having a non-rotatable screwthreaded stem dependingtherefrom and extending through both the hollow support and the boxlikeframe, and an adjusting wheel having screwthreaded engagement with saidstem, said wheel being journaled in said box-like frame and being heldthereby from movement in the direction of its axis.

2. A hat blocking machine comprising a sectional block, a hollowcylindrical support therefor provided in its wall with a vertical slot,a blockexpanding member adapted by its vertical movement to expand theblock, said member having a depending screw-threaded stem extendingthrough the hollow support, an adjusting wheel having screw-threadedengagement with said stem and by which the block-expanding member israised and lowered, and an indicator connected to said stem andextending through the slot in the support to indicate the size to whichthe block is adjusted.

3. .A hat blocking machine comprising a stand, a hollow block-supportingmember mounted thereon, an adjustable block carried by saidblocksupporting member and provided with a plurality of block sections,a, block-expanding member having inclined faces engaging the blocksections, said member having a depending stem extending through saidblock-supporting member, an adjusting wheel having screw-threadedengagement with said stem and capable of turning movement but heldagainst movement in the direction of its axis, whereby rotation of thewheel moves the block-expanding member vertically thereby expanding theblock.

4. A hat blocking machine comprising a stand, a hollow block-supportingmember mounted thereon, an adjustable block carried by saidblocksupporting member and provided with a plurality of block sections,a block-expanding member having inclined faces engaging the blocksections, said member having a depending stem extending through saidblock-supporting member, an adjusting wheel having screw-threadedengagement with said stem and capable of turning movement but heldagainst movement in the direction of its axis, whereby rotation of thewheel moves the block-expanding member vertically thereby expanding theblock, and a steam pipe extending through the block-supporting memberinto the block and terminating near the upper end thereof, and asteam-distributing manifold having a. plurality of radially extendingdischarge nipples with which the steam pipe communicates.

5. A hat blocking machine comprising a stand, a hollow block-supportingmember mounted thereon, an adjustable block carried by saidblocksupporting member and provided with a plurality of block sections,a block-expanding member having inclined faces engaging the blocksections, said member having a depending stem extending through saidblock-supporting member, an adjusting wheel having screw-threadedengagement with said stem and capable of turning movement but heldagainst movement in the direction of its axis, whereby rotation of thewheel moves the block-expanding member vertically thereby expanding theblock, and size-indicating means carried by the stem.

6. A hat blocking machine comprising a sectional block, a hood enclosingthe block, said hood being divided into sections corresponding to thoseof the block and the hood sections being formed of elastic material, andsaid hood also having zones of relatively stiff material interposedbetween the elastic sections and connecting the same, which zonesoverlie and span the spaces between the block sections, and means toexpand the block, said elastic hood sections stretching when the blockis expanded and causing the hood to hug the block as the latter isexpanded or contracted, and the zones of relatively stiff materialforming a firm support for the hat at the joints between the blocksections.

JOSEPH BONJOKIAN.

